School given a facelift by Safcol

NORDENE- A former stick and mud school has been transformed into one of the most beautiful, friendly and warm schools in the province all courtesy of Safcol Komati land Forest.

Representatives from the company and the department of education witnessed the handing over of the five fully furnished timber-frame classrooms at Nordene primary Schools in the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality.

Komatiland’s senior manager, Hazel Banda explained that the donation is courtesy of the state-owned South African Forestry Company SOC Limited (Safcol). “We use one percent of our profit to upgrade communities near us, we are partners with our neighbouring communities as Komatiland,” she said.

Banda explained that the relationship with the community started way back with a Joint community forum which involved local women from the area who were involved in a mushroom picking project, the yield of which was then sold by the company on behalf of the women.

“That project raised R40 000 and the company asked the women how they would like them to use the money and they said they needed classrooms. Our company then added on top of that money generated from the mushroom project to build these classrooms,” she said.

Unemployed youth from Vhenda were also employed during the construction phase of the classrooms. Other businesses, including Eskom which electrified the school, were also involved.

The company also donated 75 desks and water tanks to the school. “This is just a pilot project, if we get support from other departments we might be able to take it to other provinces where we operate,” added Banda.

In 2013 the company built similar classrooms at Bhekimfundvo Primary School in Swallows Nest near Dundonald. They have also built a disability centre and a crèche at Sitanani and is currently busy with a youth centre in the same municipality.

The school’s principal, Johannes Gama, profoundly thanked Komatiland for the gesture. “The department built us five classrooms. The community was also urged to avoid causing fires near the forests,” he said.

Benedict Mogadime, the acting deputy director for the department of public enterprise, said they had encouraged Safcol to pilot and roll out the project, “It is important for state-owned companies to develop our people, even if they don’t make profit, they must support our communities. We call on other businesses to work with companies like Safcol and other businesses to adopt schools and improve the education system of the country,” he said.

The 152 learners of the school, from grade R to seven, were each presented with a school bag and a juice bottle by Safcol.